Sheet media storage device and sheet media processing device

ABSTRACT

A sheet media processing device has a storage pocket. A feed roller for conveying checks into the storage pocket is disposed beside the upstream-side end wall of the storage pocket. The feed roller has a main roller part and a small roller part that is smaller in diameter than the main roller part. A reverse feed prevention plate disposed to the end wall covers at least part of the gap between the end wall and the feed roller. The distal end of the reverse feed prevention plate extends to a position between the outside surface of the main roller part and the outside surface of the small roller part.

Priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese PatentApplication Nos. 2007-203869 and 2007-203870 filed on Aug. 6, 2007,which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a sheet media processing device such asa check processing device, and to a sheet media storage device that isused in the sheet media processing device. The invention relates moreparticularly to an improved sheet media storage device that deliverssheet media into a storage pocket by means of a feed roller.

2. Description of Related Art

Banks and other financial institutions use check processing devices(also called check readers) to image the checks and read magnetic inkcharacters to capture information from checks, promissory notes, andother check-like negotiable instruments, and to sort the checks based onthe acquired information. Check imaging and magnetic ink characterreading occurs while the check is conveyed through the transportationpath of the check reading device. After the reading process iscompleted, the checks are collected and temporarily stored in a checkstorage device (sheet media storage device) located at the downstreamend of the transportation path. The check storage device has a checkstorage pocket shaped like a long narrow box corresponding to the shapeof the checks. A feed roller disposed at the upstream end of the checkstorage pocket conveys the checks into the storage pocket. See, forexample, the check reading devices taught in United States PatentApplication 2004/0257626 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub.JP-A-2004-206362.

The checks are read while being conveyed standing on their edges througha transportation path formed as a long narrow vertical slot. Whenprocessing is completed, the checks are delivered into the check storagepocket by the feed roller for storage with the checks still on theiredges. So that this feed roller for discharging the checks into thestorage pocket can reliably convey the checks, the checks are pressed bya pressure roller to the feed roller for discharge into the checkstorage pocket. The checks deposited in the check storage pocket arepushed to one side wall of the check storage pocket and are storedstanding on their edges stacked sequentially from the side wall. A feedroller with external protrusions is used so that the feed roller canreliably advance the checks. See, for example, the check reading devicehaving a feed roller with external protrusions described in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2005-161844.

The feed roller is disposed at one end of the end wall defining theupstream end wall of the storage pocket so that approximately half ofthe outside surface of the roller protrudes from the end wall into thestorage pocket. The outside surface part of the feed roller thatprotrudes into the storage pocket pushes the checks or other sheet mediafrom this end of the pocket into the storage pocket and stacks the mediaagainst the other sheet media that are already in the storage pocket.

A gap is formed between the edge of the end wall of the storage pocketand the outside surface of the feed roller on the opposite side as theside that advances the sheet media. This gap prevents interferencebetween the outside surface of the rotating feed roller and the edge ofthe end wall of the storage pocket. The outside surface of the feedroller rotates in the direction travelling from inside the storagepocket through this gap to outside the storage pocket. As a result, ifthe end of a sheet medium already stored in the storage pocket contactsthe outside surface of the feed roller, the feed roller could cause thesheet medium to reverse toward the gap. If the sheet medium is returnedby the feed roller toward the gap and then enters this gap, the sheetmedium could be torn or crumpled. The sheet medium could also becomestuck at the end wall of the storage pocket in the gap, therebypreventing the next sheet medium from entering the pocket and causing apaper jam at the entrance to the storage pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sheet media storage device according to at least one embodiment of theinvention prevents sheet media stored in the storage pocket frombecoming stuck in the gap between the end wall of the storage pocket andthe feed roller.

A sheet media processing device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention uses this novel sheet media storagedevice.

A sheet media storage device according to a first aspect of at least oneembodiment of the invention has a storage pocket of a predetermineddepth for storing sheet media standing upright; an upstream end wallthat renders the upstream end wall of the storage pocket on the upstreamside in the sheet media transportation direction; and a feed roller thatis disposed adjacent to the upstream end wall and conveys the sheetmedia into the storage pocket. At least a part of the outside surface ofthe feed roller protrudes from the end wall into the storage pocket. Areverse feed prevention member disposed to the end wall closes at leasta part of the gap between the end wall of the storage pocket and thefeed roller and thus prevents sheet media conveyed into the storagepocket from being picked and moved in reverse into this gap between theend wall and the feed roller.

Sheet media already stored in the storage pocket can thus be preventedfrom being fed back into the gap between the feed roller and theupstream end wall of the storage pocket and being torn or crumpled. Inaddition, because sheet media cannot be reversed into and trapped inthis gap at the upstream end of the storage pocket and the path for thenext sheet medium advanced into the storage pocket is therefore notblocked, the sheet media are prevented from jamming at the upstreamentrance to the storage pocket.

In a sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention, the feed roller includes a main rollerand at least one small roller part that is smaller in diameter than themain roller, at least part of the outside surface of the feed rollerprotrudes from the upstream end wall of the storage pocket to the insideof the storage pocket, the reverse feed prevention member projects fromthe upstream end wall toward the outside surface of the small rollerpart, and the distal end of the reverse feed prevention member extendsto a position between the outside surface of the main roller and theoutside surface of the small roller part.

In this aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the distalend of the reverse feed prevention member is positioned radially to theinside from the outside surface of the main roller. The reverse feedprevention member thus partially closes the gap between the feed rollerand the end wall, and the sheet media are prevented from entering thisgap even if the feed roller conveys the sheet medium to the gap. Sheetmedia pulled by contact with the outside surface of the feed roller tothis gap are also prevented from slipping into this gap from between thereverse feed prevention member and the outside surface of the mainroller.

In a sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention, the small roller part has apredetermined width along the rotational axis of the feed roller, thereverse feed prevention member is a flat member of a constant widthextending from the end wall toward the outside surface of the feedroller, and the width of the distal end side of the reverse feedprevention member is equal to or less than the width of the small rollerpart.

This aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, partiallycloses a specific width of the gap between the end wall of the storagepocket and the main roller part of the feed roller. The distal end ofthe reverse feed prevention member is thus disposed near the outsidesurface of the small roller part without interfering with the mainroller part of the feed roller. Sheet media can thus be reliablyprevented from entering the gap.

In a sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention, the feed roller has a plurality ofsmall roller parts disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween alongthe axis of rotation, and reverse feed prevention members equal innumber to the number of small roller parts are disposed to the end wall.Providing a plurality of reverse feed prevention members reliablyprevents the sheet media from reversing into the gap.

In a sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention, the small roller part is preferablydisposed near the top end of the rotational axis of the feed roller.Because the sheet media are conveyed standing on edge into the storagepocket, the top edge part may be free and the top edge of the sheetmedia can easily enter the gap. If the small roller part is rendered atthe top end of the feed roller and the reverse feed prevention member isdisposed on this small roller part, the sheet media can be reliablyprevented from being caught by the feed roller and reversed into thegap.

In a sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention, the feed roller has feed pinsprojecting radially to the outside from the outside surface of the mainroller part at both top and bottom ends in the rotational axisdirection. These feed pins push the trailing end of the sheet mediumconveyed into the storage pocket by the feed roller from the entrance tothe side inside the storage pocket. This assures a path for the nextsheet medium conveyed into the storage pocket, prevents the next sheetmedium from colliding with the trailing end part of the preceding sheetmedium, and thus prevents paper jams.

When such feed pins are disposed on the feed roller, the feed pins ofthe feed roller can easily pick the trailing end of a previously storedsheet medium, and the possibility that sheet media will be reversed intothe gap increases. However, the reverse feed prevention member of atleast one embodiment of the invention reliably prevents sheet media frombeing picked and fed into the gap even when such feed pins are disposedto the feed roller.

If the feed pins are formed at both ends of the main roller, a pressureroller preferably pushes the sheet medium to the main roller. Thepressure roller pressing the sheet medium to the feed roller causes thesheet medium to be curved as it is fed into the storage pocket. Thiscurvature makes the conveyed sheet medium effectively stiffer, and thusprevents the sheet medium from sagging or drooping as it is conveyed.Sheet media previously stored in the storage pocket are also preventedfrom interfering with the following curved sheet medium, and paper jamsare thus prevented.

A sheet media processing device according to another aspect of at leastone embodiment of the invention has a sheet media transportation pathfor conveying sheet media, and the sheet media storage device describedabove for storing the sheet media conveyed through the sheet mediatransportation path.

A sheet media storage device according to another aspect of at least oneembodiment of the invention has a storage pocket for storing sheetmedia, and a feed roller for conveying the sheet media into the storagepocket. The storage pocket has a reverse feed prevention guide surfacespanning from the upstream end wall of the storage pocket to the endpart of the feed roller.

Preferably, a reverse feed prevention guide surface that is part of thestorage pocket and is disposed on the upstream end wall of the storagepocket prevents sheet media from being pulled into the gap after thesheet media are stored in the storage pocket. The reverse feedprevention guide surface is preferably formed toward the end part at aposition offset to the outside of the feed roller along the axis ofrotation.

If the end of a sheet medium stored in the storage pocket contacts thefeed roller and is conveyed by the feed roller toward the gap, the oneend of the sheet medium stops against the reverse feed prevention guidesurface before entering the gap. The sheet medium is then guided by thereverse feed prevention guide surface as it is pushed to the end wallinside the storage pocket without entering the gap. This reverse feedprevention guide surface and the reverse feed prevention member thusreliably prevent sheet media from entering the gap.

The reverse feed prevention guide surface is preferably positioned neara tangent to the outside surface of the feed roller. This prevents thetrailing end part of sheet media stored in the storage pocket fromcontacting the outside surface of the feed roller rotating toward thegap, and reliably prevents the sheet media from being pulled into thisgap.

Further preferably the reverse feed prevention guide surface ispreferably formed on both axial ends of the feed roller. The respectivereverse feed prevention guide surfaces thus guide both top and bottomedges of the sheet medium pulled by the feed roller toward the gap, andreliably prevent the sheet medium from being wound into the gap.

Further preferably the feed roller has a feed pin protruding radially tothe outside from the outside surface of the feed roller.

Yet further preferably, a pressure roller pushes the sheet media to themain roller part of the feed roller.

Another aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention is a sheetmedia processing device for processing checks and other types of sheetmedia, which has a sheet media transportation path for conveying checksand other sheet media, and a sheet media storage device for storing thesheet media conveyed through the sheet media transportation path, whichsheet media storage device is the sheet media storage device describedabove.

This sheet media processing device according to at least one embodimentof the invention stores the processed sheet media in the sheet mediastorage device without tearing or crumpling the sheet media. The sheetmedia are also prevented from jamming in the sheet media storage device.The sheet media processing device can thus process sheet mediaefficiently without damaging the sheet media.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding ofthe invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to thefollowing description and claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are an oblique view and a plan view, respectively,of a check processing device according to at least one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view showing a part of the check storage unit inthe check processing device shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3 describes the end wall part of the first storage pocket shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B describe the function of the reverse feed preventionplate (reverse feed prevention member).

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B describe the function of the reverse feed preventionrib (reverse feed prevention guide surface).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a sheet media processing device according toat least one embodiment of the invention is described below withreference to the accompanying figures. The embodiment described belowsimply describes one example of an embodiment of the invention and doesnot specifically limit the invention to the following embodiment.

General Configuration

FIG. 1A is an external oblique view and FIG. 1B is a plan view of acheck processing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

The check processing device 1 has a case 2 on the main unit and a pairof left and right access covers 4 and 5 that open and close pivoting ona vertical support pin 3 disposed at the back end of the case 2. A checktransportation path 7 for conveying checks 6 is formed between the case2 and the access covers 4 and 5. The check transportation path 7 alsocan be formed in a single case that does not have access covers 4 and 5.

The check transportation path 7 is a narrow vertical slot that curves ina basically U-shaped configuration when seen from above. The 7 can be apath that is not U-shaped. The upstream end of the check transportationpath 7 in the check transportation direction is connected through acheck infeed path 8 that is a narrow vertical channel that is connectedto a check supply unit 9, which is a wide vertical channel. Thedownstream end of the check transportation path 7 is connected to acheck storage device 10.

The check storage device 10 has first and second branch paths 11 and 12connected to the downstream end of the check transportation path 7, andfirst and second storage pockets 13 and 14 connected to the downstreamends of the first and second branch paths 11 and 12, respectively.

A flapper 15 that directs checks 6 discharged from the checktransportation path 7 to the first or second storage pocket 13 and 14 isdisposed at the junction of the first and second branch paths 11 and 12.The check storage unit 10 can alternatively have only a single storagepocket.

As shown in FIG. 1A, each check 6 has an MICR line 6A printed along thelong bottom edge on the front 6 a of the check 6. Also recorded on thefront 6 a against a patterned background are the check amount, payer andpayee, various numbers, and the payer signature. An endorsement isrecorded on the back 6 b of the check 6.

As indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1B, a front contact imagescanner 21 for imaging the fronts of the checks 6, a back contact imagescanner 22 for imaging the backs of the checks 6, a magnetic head 23 forreading magnetic ink characters, and a printing mechanism 24 forprinting ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, for example, on the check front, aredisposed in this order along the check transportation path 7.

The orientation of the check 6 and the positions of the scanners andmagnetic head are relative and can be changed. The scanners or magnetichead may also be omitted.

After a check 6 is delivered from the check supply unit 9 through thecheck infeed path 8, the front and back sides of the check 6 are imagedand the magnetic ink character line 6A printed on the check front 6 a isread as the check 6 travels through the check transportation path 7. Ifthe information is read correctly, ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER or otherinformation is printed on the check 6, and the check 6 is delivered toand stored in the first storage pocket 13. Checks 6 that cannot bescanned or read correctly are not printed and are diverted to and storedin the second storage pocket 14.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main parts of the check storage deviceof the check processing device. FIG. 3 describes the upstream end wallpart of the first storage pocket.

As shown in FIG. 2, the check storage device 10 has first and secondbranch paths 11 and 12, and first and second storage pockets 13 and 14disposed to the downstream ends of the first and second branch paths 11and 12, respectively.

Because the first and second storage pockets 13 and 14 are basicallyidentical, only the first storage pocket 13 is described below.Corresponding parts in the first and second storage pockets 13 and 14are identified by the same reference numerals, and further descriptionof the second storage pocket 14 is omitted.

The first storage pocket 13 is a vertical channel with a predetermineddepth that is generally rectangular with the long side basically alignedwith the front-back direction of the check processing device, and has afirst side wall 31 and parallel second side wall 32 on the left andright sides, an upstream end wall 33, and a bottom 35. An inclined guidesurface 36 continuing from the upstream end of the second side wall 32diverges and moves away from the first side wall 31 as the second sidewall 32 approaches the upstream end wall 33. The upstream end of theinclined guide surface 36 communicates with the one inside wall 37 ofthe first branch path 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, a vertically long rectangular portion of the endpart of the upstream end wall 33 on the inclined guide surface 36 sideis removed, leaving only the top portion 34 and rendering a space inwhich the feed roller 40 for conveying checks 6 into the first storagepocket 13 is located. A narrow vertical gap B is thus formed between thefeed roller 40 and the vertical edge of the cutout in the upstream endwall 33 as will be known from FIG. 3.

A pressure roller 45 for pressing the checks 6 to the feed roller 40protrudes from the one inside wall 37 of the first branch path 11opposite the feed roller 40. As shown in FIG. 2, two vertical pressureplates 51 and 52 that incline to the back at a predetermined angle fromthe second side wall 32 to the first side wall 31 are disposed insidethe first storage pocket. 13.

Referring primarily to FIG. 3, the feed roller 40 includes a roller body41 and a small roller part 42 that is smaller in diameter than theroller body 41 and is rendered coaxially to the roller body 41. Thesmall roller part 42 is formed near the top end of the center axis ofthe roller body 41 with a short roller body part 41 a formed above thesmall roller part 42 and a long roller body part 41 b formed below thesmall roller part 42. The small roller part 42 can alternatively berendered at a position other than this position near the top of theroller body 41. Four feed pins 43 are formed projecting radially fromthe outside surface at the top and bottom end parts of the feed roller40, that is, at the top end of the top roller body part 41 a and at thebottom end of the bottom roller body part 41 b. The four feed pins 43are formed at equal intervals around the circumference of the roller.Alternatively, there can be only one feed pin 43. The feed pins 43 canalso be rendered only at either the top or the bottom of the feed roller40.

The pressure roller 45 includes a rotating shaft 46 disposed verticallyparallel to the feed roller 40, and two pressure rollers 45 a and 45 bdisposed coaxially on the rotating shaft 46 with a vertical gap betweenthe pressure rollers 45 a and 45 b. The pressure roller 45 rotates whilepressing the checks 6 toward the roller body 41 of the feed roller 40.The diameter of the pressure rollers 45 a and 45 b is the same, and thisdiameter is smaller than the diameter of the roller body 41 of the feedroller 40. The length L (45) between the outside ends of the pressurerollers 45 a and 45 b is less than the length L (41) of the roller body41 of the feed roller 40, and in this embodiment of the invention, isalso shorter than the axial length of the lower roller body part 41 b L(41 b)¹ of the feed roller 40 opposite the pressure roller 45. In thisembodiment of the invention the pressure rollers 45 a and 45 b areelastically pressed to the outside surface part of the lower roller bodypart 41 b between the feed pins 43 formed at the top and bottom ends ofthe roller body 41. ¹ This length L (41 b) should be added to FIG. 3.

The nipping part A of the feed roller pair including the feed roller 40and pressure roller 45 is substantially on the same plane as the endface 33 a of the upstream end wall 33 facing the inside of the storagepocket. As a result, the outside surface 41 c of the roller body 41protrudes from the end face 33 a to the inside of the first storagepocket 13.

A reverse feed prevention member is disposed on the upstream end wall 33of the check storage unit 10. The reverse feed prevention memberprevents a check 6 inside the first storage pocket 13 from beingreturned by the feed roller 40 into the gap B and becoming jammed in thegap B. This embodiment of the invention has a reverse feed preventionplate 53 disposed as a reverse feed prevention member, and a reversefeed prevention rib 54 as a reverse feed prevention guide, although onlythe reverse feed prevention plate 53 or the reverse feed prevention rib54 is needed.

The reverse feed prevention plate 53 is described next. The reverse feedprevention plate 53 is disposed on the end face 33 a of the upstream endwall 33 of the first storage pocket 13 protruding toward the feed roller40 so that at least a part of the gap B between the feed roller 40 andupstream end wall 33 is closed. The distal end part of the reverse feedprevention plate 53 is slightly narrower than the width of the smallroller part 42 of the feed roller 40, and extends parallel to the endface 33 a. The distal end part of the reverse feed prevention plate 53extends perpendicularly to the rotational axis of the feed roller 40,and the distal end 53 a extends to a position between the outsidesurface 41 c of the roller body 41 and the outside surface 42 a of thesmall roller part 42. The distal end 53 a does not touch the outsidesurface 42 a.

The reverse feed prevention rib 54 is described next. The top portion 34on the feed roller 40 side of the upstream end wall 33 of the firststorage pocket 13 extends above the top of the feed roller 40. Thedistal end portion 34 a of the top portion 34 is a convex curved surfacethat protrudes into the first storage pocket 13, and the end of thedistal end portion 34 a continues to the inside wall 38 of the firstbranch path 11. The reverse feed prevention rib 54 that prevents checks6 that have been conveyed into the first storage pocket 13 fromreversing into the gap B is disposed to the bottom edge of the topportion 34.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the surface of the reverse feed prevention rib 54facing inside the first storage pocket 13 is a reverse feed preventionguide surface 54 a. When seen from above (in line with the rotationalaxis of the feed roller 40), the reverse feed prevention guide surface54 a spans the gap between the end face 33 a and the feed roller 40. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the reverse feed prevention guidesurface 54 a is positioned along a tangent to the outside surface 41 cof the feed roller 40.

Check Storing Operation of the Check Storage Device

In the check storage unit 10 according to this embodiment of theinvention, the checks 6 that are conveyed into the first storage pocket13 from the upstream end thereof by the feed roller 40 and pressureroller 45 enter the first storage pocket 13 with the leading end of thechecks guided by the inclined guide surface 36 toward the first sidewall 31. The check 6 is pushed to the first side wall 31 by the pressureplates 51 and 52, and stored in a stack that grows across the width ofthe storage pocket.

The feed pins 43 are formed at both ends of the feed roller 40, and thepressure roller 45 presses the check 6 to the outside surface of theroller body 41 between the feed pins 43, and more specifically to theoutside surface of the lower roller body part 41 b in this embodiment ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 3, therefore, the checks 6 are fed intothe first storage pocket 13 with a curvature imparted to the checks 6 bythe feed roller pair (rollers 40 and 45). This curving of the checks 6as they are conveyed increases the check stiffness and thus prevents thechecks 6 from sagging while being conveyed. In conjunction with rotationof the feed roller 40, the end feed pins 43 push the trailing end of thecheck 6 fed into the first storage pocket 13 to the side away from thenipping part A. This clears the path for the next check 6 conveyed intothe first storage pocket 13, and prevents the next conveyed check 6 fromcolliding with the trailing end of the preceding check 6 and jamming.

The front end part of the first and second storage pockets 13 and 14 inthe check storage unit 10 according to this embodiment of the inventionis an extension unit 19 that can be pulled out to the front of the checkstorage device. Pulling the extension unit 19 out from the positionshown in FIG. 1 extends the storage pocket 13, 14 to the front so thatlonger checks 6 can be stored.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B describe the reverse feed prevention plate 53. FIG.4A and FIG. 4B are plan views showing the upstream end part of the firststorage pocket 13. FIG. 4A shows the check storage device 10 without thereverse feed prevention plate 53 attached to the upstream end wall 33,and FIG. 4B shows the check storage device 10 with the reverse feedprevention plate 53 attached to the upstream end wall 33. The figuresalso show the check 6 conveyed into the first storage pocket 13 and leftnear the feed roller 40. The trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 isleft near the outside surface 41 c of the roller body 41 of the feedroller 40 on the opposite side of the axle 40 a as the nipping part A.

When the feed roller 40 then rotates to deliver the next check 6 intothe first storage pocket 13, the feed roller 40 may catch the trailingend part 6 c of the check 6, and pull the check 6 back. The part of theoutside surface 41 c of the roller body 41 on the side opposite as thenipping part A may also contact the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6and pull the check 6 back to the upstream end side of the first storagepocket 13. If the reverse feed prevention plate 53 is not present asshown in FIG. 4A, the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 will bepulled into the gap B between the upstream end wall 33 and the feedroller 40. If this happens the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6caught in the gap B may be torn, crumpled, or otherwise damaged. Thecheck 6 stuck in the gap B also remains at the upstream end of the firststorage pocket 13, obstructing the path for the next check 6 enteringthe storage pocket and causing a paper jam at the upstream end of thefirst storage pocket 13.

If the check storage device 10 has a reverse feed prevention plate 53 asshown in FIG. 4B, however, and the feed pins 43 or the outside surface41 c of the roller body 41 pull the check 6 back to the upstream end ofthe first storage pocket 13, the trailing end of the check is stopped bythe reverse feed prevention plate 53 that closes at least a part of thegap B.

The check 6 can therefore not be pulled into the gap B, and problemssuch as tearing or crumpling the check 6 can be avoided. Because thecheck 6 also cannot enter the gap B and is not left blocking theupstream end of the stop, a path is left for the next check 6 enteringthe storage pocket. Problems such as the check 6 causing a paper jam atthe upstream end of the storage pocket can thus be avoided.

Because the reverse feed prevention plate 53 extends between the outsidesurface 41 c of the roller body 41 and the outside surface 42 a of thesmall roller part 42, the distal end 53 a is positioned to the insideradially from the outside surface 41 c of the roller body 41. As aresult, a check 6 that is caught by the outside surface 41 c of theroller body 41 and is pulled toward the gap B cannot slip between thereverse feed prevention plate 53 and the outside surface 41 c of theroller body 41 and enter the gap B. The check 6 is thus reliablyprevented from entering the gap B.

The reverse feed prevention rib 54 is described next with reference toFIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are plan views showing theupstream end part of the first storage pocket 13. FIG. 5A shows thecheck storage device 10 without the reverse feed prevention rib 54, andFIG. 5B shows the check storage device 10 with the reverse feedprevention rib 54. The figures also show the check 6 conveyed into thefirst storage pocket 13 and left near the feed roller 40. The trailingend part 6 c of the check 6 is left near the outside surface 41 c of theroller body 41 of the feed roller 40 on the opposite side of the axle 40a as the nipping part A.

When the feed roller 40 then rotates to deliver the next check 6 intothe first storage pocket 13, the feed roller 40 may catch the trailingend part 6 c of the check 6, and pull the check 6 back. The part of theoutside surface 41 c of the roller body 41 on the side opposite as thenipping part A may also contact the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6and pull the check 6 back to the upstream end side of the first storagepocket 13. If the reverse feed prevention rib 54 is not present as shownin FIG. 5A, the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 will be pulled intothe gap B between the upstream end wall 33 and the feed roller 40. Ifthis happens the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 caught in the gapB may be torn, crumpled, or otherwise damaged. The check 6 stuck in thegap B also remains at the upstream end of the first storage pocket 13,obstructing the path for the next check 6 entering the storage pocketand causing a paper jam at the upstream end of the first storage pocket13.

If the check storage device 10 has a reverse feed prevention rib 54 asshown in FIG. 5B, however, and the feed roller 40 pulls the check 6 backto the upstream end of the first storage pocket 13, the trailing endpart 6 c of the check collides with the reverse feed prevention rib 54directly above the feed roller 40. The check 6 is then guided by thereverse feed prevention guide surface 54 a and pushed to the side of theupstream end wall 33 inside the first storage pocket 13 without enteringthe gap B.

Because the check 6 also cannot enter the gap B and is not left blockingthe upstream end of the stop, a path is left for the next check 6entering the storage pocket. Problems such as the check 6 causing apaper jam at the upstream end of the storage pocket can thus be avoided.

When seen from above the feed roller 40 (in line with the axis ofrotation), the reverse feed prevention guide surface 54 a is positionednear a tangent to the outside surface 41 c of the feed roller 40. As aresult, the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 in the first storagepocket 13 is guided smoothly from the outside surface 41 c along thereverse feed prevention guide surface 54 a, contact with the outsidesurface 41 c of the feed roller 40 rotating toward the gap B is avoided,and pulling the check 6 into the gap is reliably prevented.

Furthermore, even if the feed pin 43 formed at the top of the feedroller 40 catches the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 and pulls thecheck 6 toward the upstream end wall 33, the reverse feed preventionguide surface 54 a guides the trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 tothe side so that the check 6 separates from the feed pins 43.

As described above the reverse feed prevention plate 53 partially closesthe gap B between the upstream end wall 33 and feed roller 40 so thatchecks 6 cannot be pulled into this gap B in the check storage device 10according to this embodiment of the invention. The checks 6 are alsoprevented from slipping between the reverse feed prevention plate 53 andthe outside surface 41 c of the roller body 41 and entering the gap B bymeans of the reverse feed prevention plate 53 extending to between theoutside surface 41 c of the roller body 41 and the outside surface 42 aof the small roller part 42.

In addition, because the reverse feed prevention plate 53 covers aprescribed length of the feed roller 40 in line with the axis ofrotation, checks 6 that contact the reverse feed prevention plate 53 arereliably prevented from entering the gap B.

Furthermore, because the small roller part 42 of the feed roller 40 isformed near the top where the feed pins 43 are formed, the reverse feedprevention plate 53 closes the gap B near the feed pins 43. In addition,because the checks 6 can be easily pulled to the gap B by the feed pins43, closing the gap B in this area reliably prevents the checks 6 frombeing pulled into the gap B.

A reverse feed prevention rib 54 with a reverse feed prevention guidesurface 54 a is formed above the top end of the feed roller 40. Thisreverse feed prevention rib 54 prevents the trailing end part 6 c of acheck 6 reversed to the gap B by the feed roller 40 from entering thegap B. The trailing end part 6 c of the check 6 is guided smoothly tothe side by the reverse feed prevention guide surface 54 a, and thetrailing end part 6 c of the check 6 separates from the outside surfaceor the feed pins 43 of the feed roller 40. The trailing end part 6 c ofthe check 6 is thus reliably prevented from being pulled into the gap B.

The feed roller 40 has one small roller part 42 in the foregoingembodiment of the invention, but a plurality of small roller parts 42can be disposed along the axial length of the feed roller 40. In thiscase, the same number of reverse feed prevention plates 53 as smallroller parts 42 are disposed on the upstream end wall 33 at positionscorresponding to the small roller parts 42.

The reverse feed prevention plate 53 is attached extending parallel tothe end face 33 a in the foregoing embodiment, but the reverse feedprevention plate 53 can be disposed perpendicularly to the rotationalaxis of the feed roller 40 inclining from the end face 33 a toward theinclined guide surface 36. In this case the distal end 53 a of thereverse feed prevention plate 53 preferably extends to a positionbetween the outside surface of the roller body 41 and the outsidesurface of the small roller part 42.

The foregoing embodiment of the invention is described using a checkprocessing device by way of example, but the invention is not so limitedand can be used as a sheet media storage device for a sheet mediaprocessing device that processes checks and sheet media other thanchecks, including promissory notes and invoices and regular paper. Theinvention can, for example, be used in a sheet media storage device thatis used in a sheet media processing device such as a printer or scanner.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modificationsare to be understood as included within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims, unless they departtherefrom.

1. A sheet media storage device comprising: a storage pocket for storingsheet media; and a feed roller for conveying the sheet media into thestorage pocket; wherein the storage pocket has a reverse feed preventionmember that closes at least a part of a gap between the storage pocketand the feed roller.
 2. The sheet media storage device described inclaim 1, wherein: the feed roller includes a main roller and a smallroller part that is smaller in diameter than the main roller; and thereverse feed prevention member extends from the storage pocket toward anoutside surface of the small roller part.
 3. The sheet media storagedevice described in claim 1, wherein: the feed roller includes a mainroller and a small roller part that is smaller in diameter than the mainroller; the reverse feed prevention member extends from the storagepocket toward an outside surface of the small roller part; and a widthof a distal end part of the reverse feed prevention member issubstantially equal to or slightly smaller than a width of the smallroller part.
 4. The sheet media storage device described in claim 1,wherein: the feed roller has a feed pin protruding radially from anoutside surface of the feed roller.
 5. The sheet media storage devicedescribed in claim 1, further comprising: a pressure roller that pushesthe sheet media to the feed roller.
 6. A sheet media processing devicecomprising: a sheet media transportation path for conveying sheet media;and a sheet media storage device as described in claim 1 for storing thesheet media conveyed through the sheet media transportation path.
 7. Asheet media storage device comprising: a storage pocket for storingsheet media; and a feed roller for conveying the sheet media into thestorage pocket; wherein the storage pocket has a reverse feed preventionguide surface spanning from an upstream end wall of the storage pocketto an end part of the feed roller.
 8. The sheet media storage devicedescribed in claim 7, wherein: the reverse feed prevention guide surfaceis positioned near a tangent to an outside surface of the feed roller.9. The sheet media storage device described in claim 7, wherein: thefeed roller has a feed pin protruding radially from an outside surfaceof the feed roller.
 10. The sheet media storage device described inclaim 7, further comprising: a pressure roller that pushes the sheetmedia to the feed roller.
 11. A sheet media processing devicecomprising: a sheet media transportation path for conveying sheet media;and a sheet media storage device as described in claim 7 for storing thesheet media conveyed through the sheet media transportation path. 12.The sheet media storage device described in claim 2, wherein the reversefeed prevention member is a reverse feed prevention plate (53) thatextends between an outside surface of the main roller (41) and anoutside surface of the small roller (42).
 13. The sheet media storagedevice described in claim 2, wherein a plurality of small roller parts(42) are disposed along an axial length of the feed roller (40).
 14. Thesheet media storage device described in claim 2, wherein the reversefeed prevention member is a reverse feed prevention plate (53) that isdisposed perpendicular to a rotational axis of the feed roller (40).